Nova Scotia Backgrounder

Education and health --
growing together

One of Nova Scotia s greatest assets is its educational base. Several
religious denominations established institutions of higher learning soon after
major waves of settlement. All are now non-denominational. Nova Scotia
today has more universities per capita than any other province in Canada, and a
higher-than-average percentage of the population with post-secondary
education. Many students from other parts of Canada and overseas choose
Nova Scotia for their university education. Fourteen universities and colleges
offer degrees in many disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, law,
engineering, music, theatre, journalism, business, the arts and sciences.
The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the Nova Scotia Agricultural
College, the Nova Scotia Fisheries Training Centre and the Coast Guard
College offer specialized training curricula. There is also a robotics training
course under way at the Nova Scotia Institute for Technology. The 16
institutions of the Nova Scotia Community College System provide education
and training programs in the trades, technical, technological and applied arts
fields. The provincial government is responsible for education, which is free to
the end of the secondary level.

Nova Scotia is an important centre for research and development in a wide
range of scientific and intellectual areas. Many of Nova Scotia s universities
are involved in research, both basic and in applied fields as a cornerstone of
industrial growth. Biotechnology, aerospace manufacturing, software
development and artificial intelligence are key local interests. The province
also has special expertise in offshore and ocean-related research, and one of
the largest concentrations of marine scientists in the world. (Other
backgrounders cover specific research applications.)

With a medical school at Dalhousie University, the Queen Elizabeth II Health
Sciences Centre (a recently amalgamated major tertiary care centre), and
specialized maternity and pediatric hospitals, Halifax is also a centre for
medical research and innovation. Its high concentration of research and
teaching facilities are widely acknowledged for their work in fields such as
AIDS, cardiology, multi-organ transplant, and cancer research.

The provincial Department of Health administers the health system, and
operates it in conjunction with Maritime Medical Care Inc. A provincial retail
sales tax on most goods (except most food for home consumption, clothing and
footwear) provides funds for free hospital in-patient care up to ward level
and free medically-required physician services. Prescription service is
available to those over 65 for a minimum fee, and most dental care is provided
free for children.